Find out how we’re campaigning to make a difference to mental health services in Wales.
Over 25 mums, dads and children attended an event organised by NCT on 12 July at Tŷ Hywel, the National Assembly for Wales, to urge the National Welsh Assembly to prioritise mental health support for parents in Wales.
The parents were also joined by Assembly Members including Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport, Vaughan Gething AM (pictured).
They heard why mental health services for parents are so important and the changes that are needed to improve the services currently available.
Research across the UK has also shown that ignoring the problem could cost the Government five times more than investing in perinatal mental health services in Wales.
Mind Cymru research shows 1 in 3 parents in Wales suffer from anxiety or depression in the first year after having a baby and if left untreated, perinatal mental health issues can have a devastating impact on families.
NCT Senior Policy Adviser, Elizabeth Duff said: “Mother and baby units are vitally important as they enable mums and babies to remain together at a crucial time in the bonding process even when the mother is seriously ill.
“New mothers with severe mental health concerns are currently being placed in a no-win situation in Wales. They must either travel – sometimes hundreds of miles – for treatment with their new baby or be treated nearer to home but separated from their baby.
“This situation is unacceptable and the availability of adequate mental health support for new-parents must be made an urgent priority.”
The event builds on our ongoing #BeyondBabyBlues campaign.
We’re pleased to see the work currently being undertaken within Wales to better support the mental health of new and expectant parents and their babies, in particular the National Assembly’s commitment to recruit perinatal mental health specialists to work in the community.
We look forward to working with the Welsh National Assembly to develop solutions that prioritise the mental health of all parents.
